Sabres act quickly and smartly in signing Kotalik to new deal

'Whether new ownership is winning back the public after two nonplayoff seasons and the Rigas fiasco is harder to gauge. Golisano resisted any temptation to clean house in the hockey department, retaining Regier and coach Lindy Ruff while bringing back Quinn, the former team president. Three rugged and popular players – Stu Barnes, Vaclav Varada and Rob Ray – were moved before last season's trade deadline. Tough defenseman Rhett Warrener, a top candidate to inherit the captaincy, was dealt in the Drury trade.'